Definition of hunker (down)next
as in to crouch
to lie low with the limbs close to the body had to hunker down so no one would see him behind the gate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hunker (down)
Verb
  • Behind him, fans spotted Charlotte, wearing a striped top and crouching down in the sand.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 July 2026
  • There was only one other person in sight, crouching at the water’s edge, a few hundred yards upstream—another mudlark.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • So many of the crew members made the trek to Altadena that night and huddled off camera to watch Prince perform.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
  • After celebrating, a video posted by BBC Sport showed the Belgian squad huddling together to bask in their victory, before breaking out into dance.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hunker (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunker%20%28down%29. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster